Chain.



J. M. DODGE.

CHAIN.

APPLICATION rum) MAY 24, 1913.

1,1 30,581 Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

JAMES M. nonGE, or PHILA ELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

. CHAIR".

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 24, 1913. Serial No. 769,590.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. DODGE, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have I invented certainImprovements in Chains, of which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to construct a chain, especially a drivechain, in which the hook member is rigidly attached to one link and isprovided with a socket in which the end bar of an adjoining link canfreely turn.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wedge for retainingboth link elements in position in the hook member.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l, is a plan view of two linkscoupled together illustrating my invention; Fig. 2, is a side view; Fig.3, is a sectional plan view on the line aa, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, is atransverse sectional view on the line bb, Fig. 1; Fig. 5, is atransverse sectional view on the line c0, Fig. 1; Fig. 6, is aperspective view showing the parts detached; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9, areviews illustrating modifications of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the hook member and 2 is the linkelement to which the hook member is rigidly attached.

3 is the link member, in the present instance, which has a cross bar 4adapted to a socket 5 of the hook member and is free to turn in thissocket, as it will be understood that in chains of this type, where twolink elements such as illustrated in Fig. 1 are connected by a member,one of these link elements must be rigidly attached to said member andprevented from turning therein, while the other must be free to turntherein. In all chains in which two link elements are free to turn in ashort connecting member the result has been unsatisfactory and they havebeen found impracticable as drive chains.

The link element 2 consists of an end bar 4, side bars 6 and end members7, which are formed by bending the ends of the bar from which the linkelement is made. The ends are also bent to form short longitudinalprojections 8, which enter holes 9 in the hook member 1. The socket 5 ofthe hook member l is elongated and the end members 7 of the link element2 fit in the rear end of the socket, the projections 8 extending intothe holes, as mentioned above, while the bars 6 rest in grooves 10 ineach side of the Patented Mar. 2,1915.

hook member. Thus, when the link element 2 is in position in the hookmember it is prevented from turning independently of the hook member. Ipreferably so form the holes 9 in the hook member that the projections 8will have a driving fit therein and, in some instances, I rivet theseprojecting members, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

By the above construction, it will be seen that, by making the linkelement with the inturned pro ections 8, the link element can be readilyconnected to its hook member by driving the projections into theopenings in said hook member. The side bars of the link are preventedfrom spreading, due to this construction.

In order to hold the end bar of the link element 3 in position in theforward portion of the socket 5, I provide a block 11, ,which fills theopening in the socket member between the end members 6 of one elementand the end bar 4c of the adjoining element and the block is shaped tofit thesemembers so as to allow the end bar 4 to freely turn in thesocket.

I preferably make the block 11 in the form of a wedge and beveled. Thesocket 1s tapered and undercut to conform to this wedge so that thewedge can be driven in position. The taper is so slight that there is noliability of the wedge being accidently dlsplaced although, in someinstances, it may be fastened, if desired.

The hook member is preferably of such a length that the driving face ofa sprocket tooth, which enters theopening in the link elements, willseat itself against the hook member as in ordinary links of this type.

In Fig. 8, I have shown my invention as applied to a hook member made ofa series of punched elements 12, the two central elements being cut awayto allow for the introduction of the longitudinal projection 8 of thelink element 3*. This entire link, in this instance, may be welded, ifdesired. The

end member 7 is quadrangular instead of round. Furthermore, the, end barof an adjoining link is held against longitudinal movement by the wedgeblock, yet is free to turn in the hook member.

I claim:

1. The combination of a link 'member made of a blank bent to form an endbar, two side and two end members, said end members being bent at theends to form two longitudinal projections; and a socket memher recessedto receive the end members and perforated to receive the projections ofsaid end members and having a socket for the reception of the end bar ofan adjoining link.

:2. The combination in a chain having detach-able link elements, of twolinks each having an open Center; a double hook memher for the receptionof the two adjoining bars of the said link elements, one of said linkelements being secured to the hook member so as to prevent it fromturning therein, the other link element being arranged to turn freely inthe hook member; and a block arranged to close the hook memher so as toconfine both link elements 15 against longitudinal movement in the hookmember, but allowing for the free turning of the other hook member, bothhook members being capable of being detached on the removal of theblock.

JAMES M. DODGE.

Witnesses:

WM. E. SHUPE, WM. A. BARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh, by addressingthe fiommissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C."

